Is it effective to arm teachers? Gun safety advocates say look at other states
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WRKN) — Tennessee could soon be added to a list of states where educators are allowed to carry a firearm into a school, but opponents of the bill say it won’t help keep students safer.
After passing the state Senate, the Tennessee House of Representatives is scheduled to take up a bill allowing teachers and educators to carry a firearm into school if they meet certain criteria next week.
According to Everytown, 16 states have a similar law on the books.
“There’s no research to show that arming teachers improves safety in schools,” said Everytown for Gun Safety regional director Dustin Williamson.
On Tuesday, Tennessee Senate Republicans argued this legislation will be particularly helpful in schools in more rural areas.
Senators who spoke in favor of the bill on the floor said schools in their districts haven’t been able to hire school resource officers despite Governor Bill Lee setting aside funding for that purpose.
According to a fall Tennessee Department of Education survey, more than 500 schools in Tennessee don’t have an SRO.
“There some counties when they may only have two deputies on shift and it might take 20 or 30 minutes to get to that school…what havoc can be wreaked in that 30-minute period,” said state Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston).
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Bill sponsor Sen. Paul Bailey (R-Sparta) also suggested potential shooters will be deterred from entering Tennessee schools if this becomes law because of the threat of an armed teacher.
David Pucino with the Giffords Law Center strongly disagreed and said arming teachers may make students less safe.
“There have been many incidents, of educators and other people working in schools who leave firearms who go into the bathroom, put it down and walk out, forget it. And that puts kids at risk, because kids might find that…might accidentally shoot themselves or others with it,” Pucino said.
The Giffords Law Center tracks firearm mishaps in schools and has found 100 reported incidents in the last five years.
“I think it’s really unfortunate that it’s moving ahead, and it’s putting students at risk, despite the fact that it might be trying to help protect them,” Pucino said.
The Associated Press also reports that between 2014 and 2018, there were more than 30 reported firearm mishaps at schools.
All of them involved a firearm brought to campus by educators or law enforcement and the incidents include times when a gun went off by mistake or a student found an educator’s gun around campus.
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According to the non-profit Rand Corporation, there is limited data to suggest arming staff in K-12 schools affects the outcomes of gun use.
The bill is on the Tennessee House of Representatives’ regular calendar for April 17.
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